Victory for Sheffield boxer would set up opportunity to face likes of Amir
Khan, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jnr

The last words uttered to Kell Brook from boxing svengali Brendan Ingle before the Sheffield lad left for the United States and a date with destiny tomorrow night against International Boxing Federation welterweight champion Shawn Porter were to remind him of a day 19 years ago in the Wincobank Gym.

Brook was a very shy eight-year-old boy, who had been in the gym a matter of days. He was made to stand up and address the entire gym in the audience of Herol Graham, Naz Hamed, Johnny Nelson, and Ryan Rhodes. They were World, British and European champions. Men of steel.

"Brendan reminded me that he had prepared me for this moment," Brook told The Telegraph. "I was a young kid, painfully shy, and he made me stand up and speak about myself for a minute. It was a massive thing for me. It took me out of my comfort zone.

"But it was preparing me for moments like this. Moments when the pressure is on, moments when the spotlight is on you. Now, nearly 19 years on, I'm ready for all that. He's been guiding me to this point. It's my time now. Brendan knows it and so do I. I'm the last of the old-school from the gym. The last of the Naz, 'Bomber' Graham, Johnny Nelson and Ryan Rhodes era."

Victory in the ring will bring riches in the greatest prize-fighting division in the sport at present. Lose in Los Angeles, and an opportunity to face the likes of Amir Khan, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jnr will be gone. Sporting glory aside, in this brutal business, triumph would also spell security for life for his young family.

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The contest with Porter is being televised on SHOWTIME Sports in the United States, the company which holds contracts with Mayweather and Khan.

"The pressure of being on this stage is not going to get to me," added undefeated Brook. "Pressure makes me perform better. I was born to be where I am now. I haven't got here by accident. I'm here for a reason. I'm 32 and zero in my career. I know I'm in against the best fighter I've fought to date. You're going to see me do things I've not done before. I'm going to go through all the gears and look really good."

The truth will be there in the ring. And the truth is that this remains an extremely difficult fight for Brook, against a less experienced, yet physically robust champion who is still developing, but carries power and determination in equal measure in both hands.

Brook will have to fight smart, keep his head moving, catch Porter coming in, and find angles to attack. Porter likes to come-forward aggressively but has a tendency to advance in straight lines. Brook's chin, and his ring intelligence under pressure will be key in this contest.

Brook will have to produce the performance of his career to bring home the belt. If he has it within him to come through torrid rounds, and stay with Porter to the end, victory could be his. From this vantage point, however, it has to be seen as 55-45 to the American, from Ohio, never beaten himself.

Brook and Porter have come face to face this week - accompanied by the usual niceties. There will be none in the ring. "I have a lot to offer to this sport. I'm one of the quickest and strongest guys in my weight class," said the champion of the IBF crown, whose ambitions stretch towards the other title holders in the division - namely Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Manny Pacquiao, the sport's multi-million dollar megastars, currently separated like an Iron Curtain by television deals and promoters at loggerheads.

“I'm probably the most confident too," added Porter. "But I can't help that. It's my personality, it's who I am. You're going to see some boxing, you'll see some aggression, you'll see intelligence, some power and quickness. The whole nine yards.

"I've done enough homework to know that I can beat him. Everybody in the UK better stay up late for this one. I'm hoping to get some new fans over there after this is over."

Khan, an obvious rival for Brook, has seen something in his compatriot. "Brook seems very ambitious, like he wants it. The hunger's there. But mixing at world-class level is quite different to mixing at domestic level – the level Kell's been fighting at before – but if he can pull it off, there could be a massive fight here in the UK between us.”

“We're not too far from each other. It's bubbling up. If Kell wins a world title, defends a world title and makes his name, then there's a big fight between us."

Oscar De La Hoya, president and founder of Golden Boy Promotions, added: "The main event is definitely one of those fights where you don't want to blink. I know both these fighters have the hunger and desire to put on just an amazing fight.”

Brook’s task is to repel the champion’s confidence, mentally and physically. “I know Shawn Porter is a very tough customer and a very worthy champion. But this is my time. I'm so ready mentally, and physically. I'm just in the best place of my life."

Win on Saturday night, and he really will be in the best place of his sporting life, and on the road to riches.

Brook v Porter is live on Sky Sports and free to all Sky Virgin and Freeview customers as part of Sky Sports Open Day